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Tank Heat

ncaissie

New member
Hi

Can someone tell me if you need to have both the UTH and a lamp?
I have a UTH on both tanks and the light on the one. My wife thinks you need it to mimic sunlight or something. Does it need special bulbs? Most stores only sell the stupid twirl energy bulbs.
 
I think most people in here who use rack systems dont use light, I do but there are some mornings like this morning he is out and about cruising so I just turn it off. I know if my light is on 95% of the time he will not come out. but not long after its off he is out cruising his viv.
 
I don't use bulbs in the summertime. Corns don't need light, they are nocturnal. So as long as there is a window in the room for some sort of day/night cycle then that is fine. They don't bask in sun either. I use a regular light in the winter though for some extra heat on the cool side because my house gets pretty cold. But they do not need light at all.
 
Corns don't need special light, or any light for that matter. I use LED lights (any lights will do, just make sure they don't get too hot) to give my snake a day and night cycle. As said before my corn also comes out 10 minutes after the lights are turned off. But this is NOT necessary. Also UTH gives enough heat so no heat lamps are needed.
 
Yup, corns don't need light.
Having a lamp can dry out the enclosure I've heard, which is why most people use UTH's- that and there is a bigger risk of fire with lamps? That is what I have heard.

Anyhow, the snake is fine with just the UTH.

I know some people keep corns in rooms with no windows- and the corns are just fine.
Corns don't rely on sight like we do- mostly they "smell" and feel their way around.
 
well, I thought I turned the light off and and I didnt. How ever the light has been on for a little bit now and hes still out and about lol. Hes making a lier out of me.
 
LOL Mine use to come out at night but they come out in the day time a lot more now days. I have had the light on a timer every day.
 
that and there is a bigger risk of fire with lamps? That is what I have heard.

Lol? I have used heat lamps on many other reptiles for about 6-7 years now. Not a single one has burst into :flames: flames nor damaged any of my stuff.

I take the great advice given to me when I research and ask. I use what is best for the animals. A UTH is the way to go. A heat lamp would be a waste of money in this case. :)
 
Lol? I have used heat lamps on many other reptiles for about 6-7 years now. Not a single one has burst into :flames: flames nor damaged any of my stuff.

I take the great advice given to me when I research and ask. I use what is best for the animals. A UTH is the way to go. A heat lamp would be a waste of money in this case. :)


That is why I put a "?" after that sentence. I have read a few threads here about a bigger risk of fire with heat lamps.
However, I don't know if that is everybody's experience, because I have also heard of heat tape malfunctioning and causing fires (usually from being improperly hooked up)

Again, all I know about heat lamps is what I've read here on this board. I have never used heat lamps- just UTH and flexwatt.
 
I would suggest putting your lamp on a timer to mimic normal day/night cycle. While it is common practice to just put them in a warm dark box (rack) and that is perfectly acceptable, on display enclosures I always throw a lamp on top.
 
If it's extra heat you're looking for, you can get those heat emiters that screw into the overhead lamps. My house gets cold in the winter, and I use them for extra heat.
 
I have a heat wire that runs up and down the tank at about an inch apart. It runs length ways and covers 2/3rd of the tank.
The snake seems to avoid the heated part of the tank. :(
Will the heat lamp on between 6:30 am and 8:30 pm be enough?
He is also getting ready to shed soon.
 
Firstly, you need to have only one-third of the floor heated, at one end of the tank. As the tape is running lengthwise, the only chance for a heat gradient would be in a long strip along the front (or back) of the tank. That might not be cool enough for them.

I think you'll find that most Corns avoid the warm part of the tank, most of the time. It's just important to ensure that they have a safe warm temperature in the mid-80s that they can go to when they want to. Also that the cool area is in the low 70s so that they can get cool enough. Remember to measure the temperatures with an accurate thermometer, on the floor surface.

I honestly don't think you'll need a heat lamp as well as the floor heating.
 
Ok, but the floor heating is this long wire that can't be cut and has to be no less than a certain distance apart. That is why I was thinking of unplugging it and just staying with the lamp. but the lamp is only on during the day so it may get cold at night.
Thanks for the feedback.
 
Personally I think you'd be better off investing in a more appropriate floor heater than using the lamp, but I know it's difficult when you've already set the gear up.

Can you have some of the heat wire outside the tank, without cutting it?
 
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